DualitClassic 4 Slice NewGen Toaster - Stainless Steel - Hand Built in the UK - Replaceable ProHeat elements - Defrost Bread - Mechanical Timer - Polished Classic Toaster

If the ridiculously bad reviews scare you, like they did me, check out the PDF linked instructions here on Amazons product page. You can read for yourself how easy this is to use and how wrong most of the bad reviewers were on first their use and then the various flaming reviews posted.I purchased this toaster to replace a 40 plus years-old Mary Proctor toaster (very nice in its heyday). I was actually just looking for toasters that had an optional heating rack, since that option seems really good for defrosting buns and heating this really awful cheap pastry that my Dad loves. This toaster, kept coming up in my searches, but the horrid reviews foolishly keep me from delving further. I bought it and this is what I experienced.This toaster has two simple knobs; the upper dial for the number and/or type of bread to be toasted and a lower dial for the time setting. Between the two knobs is an indicator light (an LED) showing if the heating elements are on or off. That's it. That is all it takes to use this toaster, but you need to SET BOTH EVERY time you use it.If your interested in more details, these are the "quirks" I noted:First, set how many toasts you are making; I have never had to do this before. For a two slicer it is 2, 1, or 0-like thingy for a bagel or English muffin. Of course, four slot toasters have up to 4 toast selections and a choice between 1 or 2 bagels). From reading the critical posts, I think this step is most often not known or missed by people. (If you set it for more or less toast, you get real uneven heating and toast.)Second, the first slot to use/load is on the LEFT, so you need to load from there; again I never had to do this before either, it was always from the right. (Please, please do not argue why; just go with it.)Then to "start" with a cold toaster, it might help to preheat, this really only takes a moment; but you have three options here:1)Start it with empty slots and run the toaster for a one minute, or2)Add one minute, of toasting time, to your first toast run, or3)You can actually choose to follow the manufacturer's instructions and set the timing dial to just past the 2 (minute), where they printed a black dot for you; set it there and for most breads and you will have a perfect first toast and a toaster that is now warmed up for subsequent loads. (They have actually tried to dummy-proof this toaster, the numbers are gone and my knob is labeled light, medium and dark; see they do listen.)For subsequent toasting just chose the setting you desire, (as with any toaster, different breads take different times and fresher bread will take a bit longer etc.; I have one Portuguese sweat bread that toasts very, very quickly). Once the first set of toast is made, this 2 slot-unit, can toast 55 per hour. Now that's a lot of toast.More "quirks" if you will:The bagel setting(s) is a little different, the two center elements do the toasting, so face the cut slices that way; but also the outer elements also gently heat the underside of the bagel. (I also have the rack and you can place humongous bagels (cut side down) and they will toast perfectly.)The toast does not pop-up. There is a simple mechanical lever and knob that is the fundamental design and it is both brilliant and WONDERFUL. There are two benefits for me. One, it is easy-peasy to check my toast without disrupting the toasting cycle. Two, it keeps the toast (or sandwich) warm until I am ready to retrieve it. There is no major shifting or squishing of bread, I can easily grasp very small raisin toast without the bamboo tongs (I always needed tongs for all my other toasters).Defrost setting: There used to be a snowflake on the dial to indicate it was to defrost, but I guess it was too complicated for some. Now you just put it on the 1 minute timer. After that, WAIT 20 seconds, then use or toast. This is very handy. Reviving bread this way is much, much better than microwaving.The timer: Similar to old wind up alarm clocks (my mother has one that is probably 50 years old and still wakes her every morning), is mechanical. It ticks while it is on. So there are two indicators you are toasting; one, the pleasant ticking and two, the LED light.The crumb tray: It seems really simple and it is. But there are NO MORE CRUMBS under the toaster, ever. I love that.The accessories:Bread Cage: If you have a lot of "small" items to toast, you might want to consider the bread cage. This is excellent for normal-sized toasted sandwiches, like cheese and such, or small bagels, or whatever crumpets or tea cakes are? They recommend letting the toasted sandwich sit for an additional minute for more thorough heating throughout; it really helps the cheese melt.The Warming Rack: If you have a lot of "larger" items to heat/toast, you might get this add-on. This fits above the toaster. It has various uses, like to warm or defrost muffins, buns (hot dog, hamburger etc.). Some people actually use this for toasting big bagels. Others put a piece of foil/parchment paper and reheat pizza here; it does do a great job for it, no more soggy crusts. Still others use it to heat tortillas. Whatever you use it for, it is great; it is much faster and gives better results than using a toaster oven. When re-heating pastries with icing I put a piece of parchment paper (pre-cut and in the cupboard above the toaster) down on the rack to protect from drips. (I am very biased on this option, for this is the actual reason why I finally researched Dualit and bought it; few toasters seem have this option.)Clean-up is a breeze. The most mess comes from drips from reheating pastry and such with the warming rack. This too is easy-peasy. First let it cool then lightly wipe with a damp towel with a touch of a type non-abrasive cleaner (baking soda, Bon Ami or Barkeepers Friend); looks brand new again.Other features:Serviceability: All parts are easily purchased and replaceable. If you ever need to replace a heating element the user's manual shows you how to do it!It is just simple, wonderful and incredibly functional product. The bottom line is this machine, no matter the age, rocks.

My Oster toaster bit the dust, only working some of the time and sometimes on one side sometimes on another. I was going to replace it with an identical one, but it's no longer made, but some of the reviewers had their more recent models lasting 6 months. And well I've had it with the throwaway economy. So I held my nose and bought this toaster after watching the you tube videos on how to replace the elements and the switch and watching way too many videos of people making toast with all the various toasters. I had considered a toaster oven but I don't have counter space with the 4" clearance all around you need to not light the cabinets, and wall on fire. Next I checked the price of replacement parts, as they had better be less than a new toaster, and currently they are. Replacement of the various bits looks well within my skills so no problem there.On the toast, that is why we buy these things. Yes it makes toast. Yes it will defrost the bread first. Yes there are no thermo-couple devices in it to determine whether your toast is done to perfection. You have to experiment a bit, starting of course with the basic recommended setting. As the toaster does heat up when making multiple slices, ie more than a single batch, you'll probably want to reduce the time a tad.Is the toast perfectly brown along all the face, no, it's slightly more done at the top, well heat rises. Did the toast get defrosted, yep, no issues there. Did a bagel work, yep, same for an "english muffin", on the "bagel" setting which is where the center heats up more than the outer edges. When it's done, the timer does a "click" and that's it, no bell, so you have to be paying attention. It does not automatically lift out, you have to push the level down, not an issue for me as my wrists still work fine.I did buy a sandwich press so that I can put smaller pieces of toast in it without them being caught by the lifter bar and the interior wires. First time I tried it, they didn't get stuck but I had to use tongs to get them out. Didn't burn them, and they were pretty evenly toasted as they were all at the same level.Is this thing worth the price? I have no idea, but if the current level of Oster toasters last only a year, and the reports are that this one should last at least two to three before elements are replaced (maybe longer some folks seem to get a lot of use out of theirs) the price is a break even. And I can feel good about not adding to the trash heap in the desert.Does it look cool? yeah. Does it take up more space than my old Oster? Just a bit. Is it hard to operate? no. Is it plastic? or have a plastic outer case? no.There is one mechanical lever for lifting your toast out, one dial to set it for the number of slices (left to right, when facing the toaster), or bagel. And one mechanical timer switch with a snow flake on it for defrost, a couple of random numbers, (2, 3) and a dot which the manual says is the correct place to start when making toast. Can you add just "a tad more time" yes, but if you asked for too much you can either just let it run out on it's own or push the timer to the off position.if my opinion changes on this thing, I'll update this review. But so far it's the best choice for me.

It toasts beautifully, simple functioning. Easy to use. Just what I was looking for in a toaster..